She's also landed parts in several off-Broadway performances, including "The Vagina Monologues" and "Hair: The Musical."

John has even appeared larger-than-life on a cosmetics billboard in Times Square.

"So much of this business "" and so much of life, really "" is about building relationships and not burning bridges," said John, who has about nine W-2s to put together for her 2007 tax return.

"A friend of mine works as a makeup artist and that's how I got the billboard job," John went on. "Other times, you walk into an audition with a blue screen background and a huge spotlight on your face.

"And then, they tell you something like, 'OK, act like you're walking four dogs.' It's crazy sometimes, but I love it. I love what I'm doing."

This is the kind of passion the HORD Foundation banks on when it helps kids go to college.

Just ask ex-HORD Foundation chairman Sam Hyman, who now serves on the board of trustees.

"There are national organizations that give out money for college "" the United Negro College Fund, for example "" but the Hord Foundation is somewhat unique," Hyman explained.

"To have a program of this magnitude, with the kind of results that we've had, is unheard of for a city our size "" and probably most cities."

The annual gala is a chance for the HORD Foundation to prove its point with wonderful young people like Crystal John.

Just as important, it's a chance for Greater Danbury to put its money where its mouth is and support this vital foundation.

"Obviously, it's our annual gala and its primary function is to help us raise money," Hyman said.

"But it's also an opportunity for us to celebrate what the HORD Foundation really stands for and what its accomplished."

According to Hyman, 70 percent of Danbury's African-American students go to college, a higher percentage than any other city or town in the state.

This success rate didn't happen by accident. A lot of people contributed to those results.

Next Saturday night, the HORD Foundation will honor nine of those people with its lifetime achievement award.